Vidya Atre Mirmira is Co-Chair of the firm’s Employment Litigation practice group. She has extensive experience in complex corporate litigation; employment, trade secrets, whistleblower, and ERISA litigation; whistleblower issues and investigations; and legal ethics. Illustrative of her practice, Vidya has represented global corporations in employment, trade secrets, and whistleblower litigation; and leading law firms and their attorneys in professional liability litigation and in proceedings before the District of Columbia Office of Bar Counsel. Vidya also advises on whistleblower issues and conducts related internal investigations. Since 2020, Benchmark Litigation has recognized Vidya a “Labor and Employment Star.” Born in India, Vidya grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She graduated Purdue University, summa cum laude, in 1996, earning a B.S. in electrical engineering and a minor in economics. Vidya received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Chicago Law School, where she was co-founder and executive editor of the Chicago Journal of International Law. She joined Williams & Connolly in 2001 after clerking for Chief Judge Carolyn Dineen King of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Vidya is a member of Williams & Connolly’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Associate Evaluation Committee, and Discovery Attorney Committee. She has previously served on the firm’s Hiring Committee. Representative ExperienceThough all cases vary and none is predictive, Vidya’s experience includes:
- Representing water treatment subsidiary of global conglomerate in trade secret litigation in federal and state courts, involving violations of the Defend Trade Secrets Act (“DTSA”) and related state law claims, such as unfair competition.
- Representing national anesthesia services provider in litigation involving restrictive covenants, which alleged claims including unfair competition, unjust enrichment, and misuse of confidential information, successfully defending against multiple motions for preliminary injunction and obtaining summary judgment in April 2022.
- Representing retirement plan fiduciaries of Intel Corporation in a putative nationwide class action suit in the Northern District of California arising under ERISA that challenges allocations of plan assets to alternative investments such as hedge funds and private equity, obtaining dismissal with prejudice of all class claims in January 2022.
- Represented leading private equity firm in whistleblower litigation in federal and state courts, resulting in dismissal of all claims with no payment by defendants
- Represented global wealth management firm in a confidential, binding arbitration of discrimination claims, with the Arbitrator returning a decision in favor of firm on all claims
- Representing Am Law 100 firm in litigation arising from alleged investment misconduct
- Representing Am Law 100 firm regarding claims arising out of merger transaction
- Represented leading global professional services company in ERISA breach of fiduciary duty litigation alleging negligent investment advice
- Defended global corporation and officers in ERISA class action, obtaining defense trial verdict that was affirmed by the Seventh Circuit
- Represented global financial institution in FINRA arbitration against claims by former employee who was terminated following internal investigation
- Representing global firm and co-founder in federal court litigation against employment-based claims
- Representing privately-held company in various employment-related matters, including non-compete/non-solicitation issues and payment disputes
- Conducting internal investigation of whistleblower complaint against CEO for privately held company’s independent directors
- Defended company against discrimination complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, securing dismissal of one complaint and successfully resolving another
- Represented Board of portfolio company of global private equity firm in internal investigation of senior executive alleging unfair treatment
- Conducted internal investigation of executive’s claims against senior management for publicly-traded company’s audit committee
- Represented leading private equity fund against multi-million dollar claims from an investor, prevailing on a motion to dismiss that was affirmed by the First Circuit
- Represented global financial institution in a series of related litigations arising from its role as an indenture trustee
- Defended publicly-traded corporation against charges of sexual harassment and race and gender discrimination in federal court litigation
- Represented clients in proceedings in Office of Bar Counsel in District of Columbia
Recognitions"Labor and Employment Star," Benchmark Litigation, 2020-2023 Selected to Washington, D.C. “Rising Stars” list, Super Lawyers, 2015 |
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